MONTEVIDEO, URU – Rugby Americas, Sudamérica Rugby and the Uruguay Rugby Union announced that the inaugural Under-20 Men’s Americas Rugby Championship will take place June 10-18 at Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo.

Featuring six nations from North and South America, the tournament includes Argentina, Canada, Chile, Paraguay, United States and Uruguay. Paraguay qualified through the recently held U19 tournament in Uruguay.

The U20 ARC features three triple-header game days and is structured in points just like the senior Americas Rugby Championship. Teams earn four points for a win, two for a draw and a potential for two bonus points by scoring four or more tries or losing by seven points or less. The team with the most points after three rounds takes the title.

Round one will see Argentina face Paraguay, Chile face Uruguay and the USA and Canada go head-to-head in what will also serve as a one-game qualifier for the 2020 Junior World Rugby Trophy held in Spain this September. Where both sides have played a two-match qualifier in previous years, this year will add an exciting “winner-takes-all” start to the U20 ARC.

First ranked Argentina lead Pool A with Canada (3) and Chile (5). Hosts Uruguay (2) sit atop Pool B with USA (4) and Paraguay (6).

Broadcast information for the U20 Americas Rugby Championship will be confirmed in the coming months.

Match times and broadcast information will be confirmed closer to date.

“We’re excited to launch the first-ever Under-20 Men’s Americas Rugby Championship in Montevideo, Uruguay," said Dan Payne, Rugby Americas Chief Executive Officer. "There’s been a lot of hard work over the last two years to make this tournament happen and we’re thankful for Uruguay Rugby leading as hosts. By providing high quality and meaningful competition, this tournament underpins the senior Americas Rugby Championship with youth development in line with how the U-20 Americas Rugby Challenge feeds its senior tournament.

“With all four of our key competitions – the Senior and Under-20 ARC and ARCh – linked through promotion and relegation, there is a competitive pathway across both North and South America that will fuel continued development.”

“For a few years we have been working together with Rugby Americas. In both the north and the south of the continent, we are aligned with our goals and opportunities," added Sebastian Piñeyrua, president of Sudamérica Rugby. "We have to fight so that our players find in their unions the possibility of developing and being successful in their future. We still have many challenges together and we are united as a contingent to go after them.”

Rugby Uruguay President Pablo Ferrrari added that hosting the event if a big deal.

“For Uruguay, it is a great honor to receive the first Americas Rugby Championship U20," said Ferrari. "Not only because it will remain in history for being the first and having the possibility of being the host country, but because it confirms once again the confidence of World Rugby, and in this case Rugby Americas, in our country as an organizer of major events.

"The arrival of the Americas Rugby Championship U20 means a quality leap for the selected youth in terms of annual competition and will undoubtedly be a determining factor to continue developing more and better players.”

2020 Under-20 Americas Rugby Championship Schedule:

June 10 – Round 1
Argentina v Paraguay
Uruguay v Chile
USA v Canada (qualifier for Junior World Rugby Trophy)

June 14 – Round 2
USA v Argentina
Uruguay v Canada
Paraguay v Chile

June 18 – Round 3
Argentina v Uruguay
USA v Chile
Paraguay v Canada